Body Found in King’s Canyon Identified As Missing Fremont School Teacher

UPDATE: 10:36 p.m. — THREE RIVERS, Ca (KRON) — Officials have confirmed that the body discovered in King’s Canyon National Park is that of missing Fremont school teacher Gregory Muck.

Authorities believe that Muck may have fallen in rocky and steep terrain. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

The body was transferred to the Fresno County Coroner’s Office. A ground search team located the body in their assigned search area.

Muck, of Santa Cruz, was hiking alone in the wilderness of Kings Canyon National Park. On August 10, Muck departed from the Roads End area of Kings Canyon National Park. He planned to hike to Gardiner Basin via Gardiner Pass.

After several days in the basin, he planned to hike out Gardiner Creek to the Woods Creek Trail and return to Roads End in Cedar Grove by August 17, officials said. The next morning, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks’ Dispatch Office was notified of the missing hiker via a phone call from Muck’s wife.

UPDATE 5:28 p.m.: Searchers discovered a body at approximately 12,000 feet in elevation northwest of Mount Gardiner in King’s Canyon National Park. Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks and Yosemite National Park staff are in the process of recovering the body.

The search for missing hiker Gregory Muck has been temporarily suspended pending identification of the body.

KING’S CANYON NAT’L PARK (KRON) — A search is underway in the King’s Canyon National Park for a Santa Cruz hiker now three days overdue.

46-year old Gregory Muck teaches at the John Gomes School in Fremont. With classes due to start in a week, concern is growing about where Muck might be.

KRON 4’s Will Tran reports Much is an experienced hiker who normally goes backpacking in King’s Canyon every year. He was supposed to return to his wife and five-year old girl on Sunday but hasn’t appeared or sent word.

Muck’s family and authorities are asking for anyone who was in the park over the last ten days who might have seen the missing man to come forward.

Authorities say Muck is about 6 feet tall, 170 lbs with blond hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a bright blue shirt, green wool pants, black boots and a blue bandana. He may be carrying a red frame pack, blue tarp and orange tent. He may also have fishing gear with him.

Stay tuned to KRON 4, the KRON 4 Mobile App, and KRON4.com for the latest on this developing story.